Image pickup apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image pickup apparatus including a camera unit, a tilt support member supporting the camera unit, a pan support member supporting the tilt support member, a pan rotation shaft, a base member disposed on an opposite side of the camera unit with respect to the pan support member in a pan rotation shaft direction, a substrate supported by the pan support member, and a ring-shaped ultrasonic motor including a vibrator connected to the substrate, and a sliding member contacting the vibrator, the ultrasonic motor rotatably driving the pan support member in the pan direction. The vibrator is supported by the pan support member and moves relative to the sliding member by generating a vibration. The sliding member is supported by the base member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an image pickup apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

There are image pickup apparatuses that can change the panning and tilting angles of a camera unit to perform imaging of an image at a position and direction desired by the user.

There is an image pickup apparatus having a typical tilting and rotating function that tilts and rotates a camera unit by rotating, through a deceleration mechanism, a gear fixed to a tilting rotation shaft with a stepping motor disposed below the tilting rotation shaft.

Similarly, in an image pickup apparatus having a typical panning and rotating function that pans and rotates a camera unit by rotating, through a deceleration mechanism, a gear fixed to a pan rotation shaft with a stepping motor disposed near the pan rotation shaft (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-41919).

However, as in the case of the conventional art described above, in the image pickup apparatuses using a stepping motor, there are cases in which the output is slow with respect to the input to the motor, in other words, there are cases in which responsiveness is not good.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an image pickup apparatus that includes a drive source that has excellent responsiveness.

In order to overcome the problem described above, an image pickup apparatus of the present disclosure is configured in the following manner. That is, an image pickup apparatus includes a camera unit including an image pickup element, a tilt support member that supports the camera unit in a rotatable manner in a tilt direction, a pan support member that supports the tilt support member in a rotatable manner in a pan direction, a pan rotation shaft that is a center of rotation when the pan support member rotates in the pan direction, a base member disposed on an opposite side of the camera unit with respect to the pan support member in a pan rotation shaft direction, a substrate supported by the pan support member, and a ring-shaped ultrasonic motor including a vibrator that is connected to the substrate and that generates a vibration by being applied a voltage thereto, and a sliding member that is in contact with the vibrator, the ring-shaped ultrasonic motor being disposed coaxially with the pan rotation shaft and rotationally driving the pan support member in the pan direction. In the image pickup apparatus, the vibrator of the ultrasonic motor moves relative to the sliding member by being supported by the pan support member and by generating a vibration, and the sliding member of the ultrasonic motor is supported by the base member.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image pickup apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a tilt unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a camera unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the image pickup apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view around a tilting rotation shaft according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view around an ultrasonic motor of the tilting rotation shaft according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a pan unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view around a pan rotation shaft according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view around an ultrasonic motor of the pan rotation shaft according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter. FIG. 1 illustrates an external view of an image pickup apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a tilt unit, FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a camera unit, and FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the image pickup apparatus.

An image pickup apparatus 100 includes a camera unit 200 that performs imaging, and a tilt unit 300 that rotates the camera unit 200 about a tilt axis L2 in a tilt direction. The image pickup apparatus 100 further includes a pan unit 400 that rotates the camera unit 200 about a pan axis L3 in a pan direction, and a base unit 500 that serves as a fixed portion when the image pickup apparatus 100 is attached to a wall surface of a ceiling.

Camera Unit 200

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the camera unit 200 includes a camera 201 that can perform imaging in an optical axis L1 direction, a case member 202, and a camera cover 203. The camera 201 includes an image pickup element and a plurality of lens. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the case member 202 includes an upper case 202 a formed of sheet metal, and a lower case 202 b formed of sheet metal. The camera 201 is fitted in and supported by the case member 202. The camera cover 203 includes an upper cover 203 a formed of resin, and a lower cover 203 b formed of resin. The camera cover 203 covers a portion of the camera 201 and a portion of the case member 202. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the camera unit 200 and the tilt unit 300 are protected by fitting and fixing a pan cover 331, a front cover 330, a side cover 324, and a side cover 311 to a bottom case 501 described later.

Tilt Unit 300

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view around a tilting rotation shaft according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a portion around an ultrasonic motor of the tilting rotation shaft. The tilt unit 300 includes a first rotation shaft 320, a second rotation shaft 301, an ultrasonic motor 305, a rotor fixing member 302, a first support member 323, a second support member 310, a bearing holder 322, and a rotation preventing member 307.

The first rotation shaft 320 serving as the tilting rotation shaft is rotatable about the tilt axis L2. One end of the first rotation shaft 320 is attached to the case member 202, and the other end is inserted inside a bearing 321. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bearing 321 is fitted to and supported by the bearing holder 322. The bearing holder 322 is fitted and fixed to the first support member 323. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a portion of the bearing holder 322 has a cylindrical shape that holds the bearing 321.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotor fixing member 302 has a circular shape, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, is inserted in an opening of the camera cover 203 and is fixed to a lateral side of the case member 202. Furthermore, a scale 312 of an encoder is fixed to the rotor fixing member 302.

The second rotation shaft 301 serving as the tilting rotation shaft is hollow inside and is integrally formed together with the rotor fixing member 302. The second rotation shaft 301 is rotatably supported about the tilt axis L2 by a bearing 303. The bearing 303 is supported by a first bearing holding member 304, a stator fixing member 308 described later, and a second bearing holding member 309.

The first bearing holding member 304 has a cylindrical shape, and fixes an inner ring 303 a side of the bearing 303. The second bearing holding member 309 has a cylindrical shape and fixes an outer ring 303 b side of the bearing 303. Furthermore, the bearing 303 is inserted inside and supported by a through hole 308 b provided in the stator fixing member 308. Furthermore, the second bearing holding member 309 is inserted inside and fixed to the through hole 308 b of the stator fixing member 308.

The first support member 323 serving as a tilt support member is disposed on the side of the camera unit 200 on which the ultrasonic motor 305 is not disposed, and fixes the bearing holder 322. The first support member 323 is fixed to a pan base 409.

The second support member 310 serving as a tilt support member is fixed to the pan base 409 so as to form a pair with the first support member 323. The second support member 310 is disposed on a side of the ultrasonic motor 305, which is opposite to the side on which the camera unit 200 is disposed. The second support member 310 fixes the stator fixing member 308.

A signal line 333 serving as a connecting member connects an imaging element substrate of the camera 201 and a control substrate 412 described later to each other. The signal line 333 is inserted inside (in an inner space) of the ultrasonic motor 305 and the second rotation shaft 301.

The rotation preventing member 307 prevents a stator 305 b from rotating and moving relative to the stator fixing member 308 about the tilt axis L2. The rotation preventing member 307 is fitted into and supported by an attaching portion 308 a on the stator fixing member 308 and is disposed in a fitting space 334 provided in a gap between the attaching portion 308 a and the ultrasonic motor 305. The rotation preventing member 307 includes projections 307 a that extend in a radial direction of the second rotation shaft 301 at substantially equal intervals. The projections 307 a are inserted into gaps of a pectinate portion 305 c of the stator 305 b. With the above, the stator 305 b is prevented from rotating and moving relative to the stator fixing member 308 about the tilt axis L2.

The encoder detects a turn angle of the camera unit 200 in the tilt direction. The scale 312 of the encoder is fixed on the rotor fixing member 302 so as to be coaxial with the rotation shaft 301. A sensor 313 of the encoder is disposed on the stator fixing member 308 so as to correspond to the scale 312 on the rotor fixing member 302. By reading the value of the sensor 313, the amount of rotation and movement of a rotor 305 a relative to the stator 305 b can be obtained and the tilting angle of the camera unit 200 can be detected.

The ultrasonic motor 305 is a driving source that rotates the camera unit 200 in the tilt direction and is formed of a ring-shaped member. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the ultrasonic motor 305 includes the annular stator 305 b including a signal line 332 for driving, and the annular rotor 305 a that is rotationally driven relative to the stator 305 b. The ultrasonic motor 305 is coaxial with the second rotation shaft 301 and is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the stator fixing member 308. In detail, the rotor 305 a is disposed on a camera unit side and the stator 305 b is disposed on a second support member side. Furthermore, the rotor 305 a is installed on the rotor fixing member 302 so as to be coaxial with the rotation shaft 301.

The stator 305 b is disposed coaxially with the rotation shaft 301 and in contact with the rotor 305 a and is connected to the control substrate 412 described later with the signal line 332. A biasing member 306 is fitted on and supported by the stator fixing member 308 so as to bias the stator 305 b towards the rotor 305 a. In other words, the ultrasonic motor 305 and the biasing member 306 are held between the rotor fixing member 302 and the stator fixing member 308. In so doing, the biasing member 306 exerts biasing force that is sufficient for the stator 305 b to rotate the rotor 305 a. With such biasing force, the rotor 305 a is rotated about the tilt axis L2 when the stator 305 b is driven.

Driving of the camera unit 200 with the ultrasonic motor 305 will be described hereinafter. When a signal is input through the signal line 332 for driving, the stator 305 b vibrates. The rotor 305 a is rotated in the tilt direction with the vibration transmitted from the stator 305 b. Furthermore, since the rotor 305 a is fixed to the rotor fixing member 302, when the rotor 305 a rotates, the rotor fixing member 302 also rotates about the second rotation shaft 301. In other words, the second rotation shaft 301 is rotated in the tilt direction with the rotation of the rotor 305 a. Furthermore, since the case member 202 is fixed to the rotor fixing member 302, when the rotor fixing member 302 rotates, the camera unit 200 rotates as well.

As described above, by using the ultrasonic motor 305, an image pickup apparatus with better responsiveness, compared to an image pickup apparatus using a stepping motor, can be provided. Furthermore, the rotor of the ultrasonic motor 305 being disposed on the camera unit 200 side with respect to the stator of the ultrasonic motor 305 is a compact and efficient arrangement. More specifically, if the rotor and the stator are disposed at positions that are opposite to the positions of the present exemplary embodiment, different from the support member that supports the stator, a separate member that holds the rotor will be needed. Accordingly, the arrangement of the present exemplary embodiment can be said to be a compact and efficient arrangement.

Furthermore, while a stepping motor needs a deceleration mechanism, a deceleration mechanism that has a complex gear configuration will not be needed when using an ultrasonic motor. Furthermore, when a stepping motor is used, the deceleration mechanism is provided coaxially with the tilting rotation shaft, and the motor is disposed below the deceleration mechanism. However, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic motor 305 is disposed coaxially with the second rotation shaft 301; accordingly, there is no need to dispose the motor under the second rotation shaft 301, which leads to size reduction. Furthermore, by disposing the signal line 333, which transmits a signal of an image taken by the camera 201 to the control substrate 412, inside the ultrasonic motor 305 and the rotation shaft 301, there is no need to provide a signal line on the side of the camera unit 200 opposite to the ultrasonic motor 305.

By forming the rotor fixing member 302 and second rotation shaft 301 as an integrally formed component, the number of components can be reduced. By disposing the bearing 303, the bearing holding member 309, bearing holding member 304, the rotation shaft 301, the signal line 333 inside the ultrasonic motor 305 and the through hole 308 b of the stator fixing member 308, space can be reduced. Specifically, spaces for the bearings and the members that hold the bearings, which are spaces that are conventionally need in addition to the space for disposing the ultrasonic motor, can be reduced. Accordingly, the size of the body of the image pickup apparatus can be reduced.

Base Unit 500

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the base unit 500 includes the bottom case 501, a bottom sheet metal 502, and a power supply board 503.

The bottom case 501 is installed on a ceiling or a wall through the bottom sheet metal 502. The pan unit 400 described later is disposed inside the bottom case 501. The bottom sheet metal 502 is a member that is fixed to a ceiling or a wall. The power supply board 503 is a substrate for supplying power, and supplies power to the control substrate 412 through a signal line 414. The signal line 414 serving as a connection member is inserted inside (in an inner space of) a pan rotation shaft 401 described later. The power supply board 503 is attached to the bottom sheet metal 502.

Pan Unit 400

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the pan unit of the image pickup apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view around the pan rotation shaft, and FIG. 9 is an exploded view of an ultrasonic motor of a pan rotation shaft. The pan unit 400 includes the pan rotation shaft 401, the pan base 409 serving as a pan support member, a base member 413, and an ultrasonic motor 406.

The pan base 409 is a substantially circular-shaped member that includes a through hole 409 b at the center and rotates during the rotation of the pan. The first support member 323 and the second support member 310 are fixed to the pan base 409. Furthermore, the control substrate 412 is fixed to the pan base 409. The camera 201, the ultrasonic motor 305, the ultrasonic motor 406 described later, and the power supply board 503 are connected to the control substrate 412 with signal lines.

The base member 413 is a circular-shaped member that has a through hole 413 a at the center. The base member 413 is fixed to the bottom case 501. The base member 413 is disposed on the other side of the camera unit 200 with respect to the pan base 409 in the pan rotation shaft direction.

The pan rotation shaft 401 is hollow inside and is rotatable about the pan axis L3. Furthermore, the pan rotation shaft 401 is the center of rotation when the pan base 409 rotates in the pan direction. A screw portion 401 a that engages with a falling-off prevention member 405 is provided at an end portion of the pan rotation shaft 401. Furthermore, a bearing holding member 404 that prevents bearings 402 and 403 from moving in a pan axis L3 direction is inserted over the pan rotation shaft 401. The bearing holding member 404 includes three projections 404 a.

The bearing holding member 404 includes three projections 404 a. The three projections 404 a are fixed to the pan base 409 by being disposed to correspond to three projections 409 d on the pan base 409. The falling-off prevention member 405 is screwed and fixed to a screw portion 401 d of the pan rotation shaft 401 to prevent the bearing holding member 404 from falling off from the pan rotation shaft 401. With the above, the bearing holding member 404 is fitted into and fixed to the rotation shaft 401 so that the pan rotation shaft 401 is rotatable about the pan axis L3.

A rotation preventing member 408 is a member that prevents a vibrator 406 b from rotating relative to the pan base 409. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the rotation preventing member 408 is fitted into and is supported by an attaching portion 409 a on the pan base 409 and is disposed in a fitting space 416 provided in a gap between the attaching portion 409 a and the ultrasonic motor 406. The rotation preventing member 408 includes projections 408 a that extend in a radial direction of the pan axis L3 at substantially equal intervals. The projections 408 a are inserted into gaps of a pectinate portion 406 c of the vibrator 406 b. With the above, the vibrator 406 b is prevented from rotating relative to the pan base 409 about the pan axis L3.

The encoder detects a turn angle of the camera unit 200 in the pan direction. A scale 410 of the encoder is fixed on the base member 413 so as to be coaxial with a rotation shaft 401. A sensor 411 of the encoder is disposed on the pan base 409 so as to correspond to the scale 410 on the base member 413. By reading the value of the sensor 411, the amount of rotation and movement of the pan base 409 relative to the base member 413 can be obtained and the panning angle of the camera unit 200 can be detected.

The ultrasonic motor 406 is a driving source that rotates the camera unit 200 in the pan direction, and is formed of a ring-shaped member. The ultrasonic motor 406 includes the annular vibrator 406 b including a signal line 415 (see FIG. 4) for driving, and an annular sliding member 406 a. Furthermore, the ultrasonic motor 406 is coaxial with the pan rotation shaft 401 and is disposed around the through hole 413 a of the base member 413. In detail, the annular vibrator 406 b is disposed on a pan base 409 side and the sliding member 406 a is disposed on a base member 413 side.

Furthermore, the sliding member 406 a is coaxial with the pan rotation shaft 401 and is fixed on the base member 413. The vibrator 406 b is coaxial with the pan rotation shaft 401 and is disposed so as to be in contact with the sliding member 406 a. The vibrator 406 b is connected to the control substrate 412 with the signal line 415. A biasing member 407 is fitted into and is supported by the pan base 409 so as to bias the vibrator 406 b towards the sliding member 406 a. In other words, the ultrasonic motor 406 and the biasing member 407 are held between the base member 413 and the pan base 409. In so doing, the biasing member 407 exerts biasing force that is sufficient for the vibrator 406 b and the sliding member 406 a to rotate relatively. With such biasing force, the vibrator 406 b, by vibrating, rotates about the pan rotation shaft relative to the sliding member 406 a.

Driving of the camera unit 200 with the ultrasonic motor 406 will be described hereinafter. When a voltage is applied through the signal line 415 for driving, the vibrator 406 b vibrates. With the above, the vibrator 406 b rotates in the pan direction relative to the sliding member 406 a.

Furthermore, since the vibrator 406 b is fixed with the rotation preventing member 408 described later so as not to rotate relative to the pan base 409, the pan base 409 also rotates about the pan rotation shaft 401 when the vibrator 406 b is vibrated. In other words, the pan rotation shaft 401 is rotated in the pan direction with the vibration of the vibrator 406 b. Furthermore, since the first support member 323 and the second support member 310 are fixed to the pan base 409, when the pan base 409 rotates, the camera unit 200 rotates as well.

As described above, by using the ultrasonic motor 406, an image pickup apparatus with better responsiveness, compared to an image pickup apparatus using a stepping motor, can be provided. Furthermore, since the control substrate 412 and the vibrator 406 b are disposed on the pan base 409, the signal line 415 connecting the substrate 412 and the vibrator 406 b to each other does not become twisted even when the camera unit 200 rotates in the pan direction.

Furthermore, while a stepping motor needs a deceleration mechanism, a deceleration mechanism that has a complex gear configuration will not be needed when using an ultrasonic motor. Furthermore, when a stepping motor is used, the deceleration mechanism is provided coaxially with the pan rotation shaft, and the motor is disposed next to the deceleration mechanism. However, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic motor 406 is disposed coaxially with the pan rotation shaft 301; accordingly, there is no need to dispose the motor next to the pan rotation shaft 301. Accordingly, the unoccupied space can be used to dispose other components.

Since the signal line 414, the rotation shaft 401, the bearing 402, the bearing 403, the bearing holding member 404, and the falling-off prevention member 405 are disposed inside the ultrasonic motor 406 and in the through hole 413 a of the base member 413, space can be reduced. Specifically, spaces for the bearings and the members that hold the bearings, which are spaces that are conventionally need in addition to the space for disposing the ultrasonic motor, can be reduced. Accordingly, the size of the body of the image pickup apparatus can be reduced.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

A preferable exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above; however, the present disclosure is not limited to the above specific exemplary embodiment and may include various modes that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Portions of the exemplary embodiment described above may be combined as appropriate.

For example, the rotor fixing member 302 and the rotation shaft 301 may be separate components. As long as appropriate biasing force is exerted in creating rotational drive between the rotors 305 a and 406 a of the ultrasonic motors 305 and 406 and the stators 305 b and 406 b, the biasing members 306 and 407 may be elastic members such as waved washers or rubber.

The signal line 333 that connects the camera 201 and the control substrate 412, and the signal line 414 that connects the control substrate 412 and the power supply board 503 may be flexible printed wiring boards, thin line coaxial cables, or slip rings. Members that fix the rotation preventing members 307 and 408 to the stator fixing member 308 and the pan base 409 may be snap-fit structures or screws.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2017-167756 filed Aug. 31, 2017, No. 2018-116889 filed Jun. 20, 2018, No. 2017-167757 filed Aug. 31, 2017, and No. 2018-116890 filed Jun. 20, 2018, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a camera unit including an image pickup element; a tilt support member that supports the camera unit in a rotatable manner in a tilt direction; a pan support member that supports the tilt support member in a rotatable manner in a pan direction; a pan rotation shaft that is a center of rotation when the pan support member rotates in the pan direction; a base member disposed on an opposite side of the camera unit with respect to the pan support member in a pan rotation shaft direction; a substrate supported by the pan support member; and a ring-shaped ultrasonic motor including a vibrator that is connected to the substrate and that is made to vibrate by being applied a voltage thereto, and a sliding member that is in contact with the vibrator, the ring-shaped ultrasonic motor being disposed coaxially with the pan rotation shaft and rotationally driving the pan support member in the pan direction, wherein the vibrator of the ultrasonic motor moves relative to the sliding member by being supported by the pan support member and by vibrating, and wherein the sliding member of the ultrasonic motor is supported by the base member.
 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a connecting member that connects the substrate and a power supply board that supplies power to each other, wherein the connecting member is disposed in an inner space of the ultrasonic motor.
 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pan rotation shaft is hollow inside, and the connecting member is disposed in an inner space of the pan rotation shaft.
 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a bearing that rotatably supports the pan rotation shaft, wherein the bearing is disposed in an inner space of the ultrasonic motor.
 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the base member includes a through hole, the bearing and the pan rotation shaft being disposed in the through hole.
 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a holding member that holds the bearing is disposed in a through hole of the pan base.
 7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a falling-off prevention member that prevents the holding member inserted over the pan rotation shaft from falling off from the pan rotation shaft, wherein the falling-off prevention member is screwed over a screw of the pan rotation shaft.
 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vibrator of the ultrasonic motor is attached to the pan support member.
 9. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding member of the ultrasonic motor is attached to the base member.
 10. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an encoder that detects a turn angle of the pan direction of the camera unit, wherein a scale of the encoder is disposed on the base member, and a sensor of the encoder is disposed on the pan base.
 11. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation preventing member that prevents the vibrator of the ultrasonic motor from rotating and moving relative to the pan base, wherein the rotation preventing member is disposed between the ultrasonic motor and the pan base. 